New Naturalism by Kelly D. Norris

Author:Kelly D. Norris
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Cool Springs Press
Published: 2021-10-15T00:00:00+00:00

Generous spacing and poor consideration for the matrix led to this herbaceous planting looking barren the year following its establishment. These conditions won’t simply resolve themselves with time even as the existing plants grow. In this scenario, weeds will realize the gap opportunities faster than the plants will establish, leading to lopsided management requirements. Better planting schemes that fill the gaps with more diversity can serve as green mulch and avoid this scenario.

Disturbance from tillage and planting introduces new weed seed to the surface where they readily germinate; a few inches of mulch can greatly reduce weed pressures during the first year of the establishment. The type of mulch depends on the context and climate too. In an open, sunny, and otherwise productive situation, organic mulches such as finely shredded hardwood or coarse, composted leaves would do the trick. In a stressful, dry setting, inorganic mulches of gravel and fine stone fit the look and the reality that most plants adapted to those circumstances thrive in lean conditions. Ideally, for the greatest resonance with place, the type of mulch you select should have some relationship to the site; pine needles for former pine barrens or shredded leaves for woodlands and woodland edges, for example. First, it’s sensical—use what’s available. Second, it minimizes introducing more biochemical variables to the site. Knowing something about your site will help you navigate choices for mulches and soil amendments, if necessary. If you do mulch, be sure it’s not contaminated with weed seeds if at all possible. A reputable supplier should be able to tell you how the mulch was stored in their yard.

To prepare for planting, it never hurts to inventory the existing weeds on the site. These real-time clues foretell challenges you could face in the early days of establishing the planting. Sometimes these are weeds of the garden past. Sometimes they are persnickety annual weeds lurking in the seedbank waiting for tillage to reawaken them. Paying attention to the composition of existing weed communities can give you a clue as to when to establish the planting. If you’re battling weeds that germinate in warm, wet conditions such as those found in midcontinental summers, consider installing the new planting as early in the growing season as possible so that the plants you actually want have a head start on those that you don’t. Similarly, instead of waiting for the perfect moment to plant, ensure that there’s a redundant level of abundance within any particular layer of your plan, to provide as many chances of outcompeting any existing site pressures. However you choose to prepare the planting, keep an eye on the existing conditions of the site. The most recent stable state of the site looms large on the near-term future barring some kind of nuclear reset.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.